Revision as of 10:47, 17 November 2008

Contents

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to create a framework for the visual analysis of user interactions for applications built on the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) and Eclipse Rich Ajax Platform (RAP). The framework was built using the mechanism of the Usage Data Collector from the Eclipse Packaging Project (EPP) as a data source. The framework can display data collected by the Eclipse Data Collector in RCP-based applications and in RAP-based Ajax applications. The principal idea is to build a framework for visual analysis of clicks and the execution of actions within RCP-based applications. The framework can be operated interactively and present the statistical data via an overlay (cp. Google Analytics Site Overlay).

Feature list

The framework consists of two main components:

the Usage Data Collector (UDC) which provides usage information

the Visual Usage Analytics (VUA) that represents the visualization

The EPP UDC was enhanced to run in both RAP and RCP platforms and tracks UI interactions on the SWT level. The VUA can be directly integrated with the application to be investigated and can be activated on demand. The actions it trakcs and the displayed overlay must be compatible with RAP and RCP applications.

Usage Data Collector

compatibility with RAP and RCP by using singlesourcing techniques

tracking of the widget use

additional recorder availabel based on Java Message Service (JMS)

Visual Usage Analytics

compatibility with RAP and RCP by using singlesourcing techniques

user-friendly UI design

toolbox provides quick access to controls (start, stop, reports, etc)

extensible and flexible architecture

queries can be added with extensions

UI contributions to access VUA can be set in a declarative and programmatic way

optional security component

Getting the source

:pserver:anonymous@cvs.innoopract.com:/eclipse.org

Sample Visual Analysis for a RAP-Application

To demonstrate the framework, we applied it to an application written for the Eclipse Rich Ajax Platform (RAP). We took the example of the "add /remove from schedule" functionality and made it accessible via both the context menu and the toolbar.

In the illustrations below, we have overlayed the context menu and the toolbar to make the options visible at the same time.